You are here

Rise, resist and unite to end violence against women

Newsroom

Rise, resist and unite to end violence against women

Mon, Feb 19, 2018

One-billion women around the world continue to experience gender-based violence.

On Feb. 21, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU’s) Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR) will host the One Billion Rising Revolution at KPU’s Surrey campus as a show of solidarity with women all over the world who are vulnerable or exploited.

“Domestic violence is a health epidemic around the world and here locally,” said NEVR facilitator and KPU nursing faculty Dr. Balbir Gurm. “One woman is killed by her intimate partner every six days in Canada.”

One Billion Rising is a global movement that started in 2012 based on the staggering United Nations’ statistic that one in three women will be beaten or raped during their lifetime. Since its inception, people across the globe have come together every year to express their outrage and rise in defiance of violence against women.

The informative hour will include presentations from the City of Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, B.C. Lion Solomon Elimimian, various KPU representatives and KPU psychiatric nursing students, as well as audience participation in the Break the Chain dance, networking and refreshments.

“We extend an invitation to the entire community to please come and join us and help spread the message that relationship violence will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Gurm.

The day after the event, Gurm and KPU’s nursing students studying global health are offering a free Lunch and Learn workshop on Feb. 22 at Surrey Central Library to help community members learn to recognize abuse, intervene safely and help assist survivors to resources.

Lunch and Learn: Community Champion Toolkit training
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, 12-noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Surrey Central Library, room 120 (10350 University Dr., Surrey, B.C.)
INFO: The event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Please email nevr@kpu.ca. The Community Champion Toolkit was developed by NEVR, KPU, DIVERSEcity and the B.C. Provincial Office of Domestic Violence.

NEVR is a community-based project operating out of KPU that focuses on all types of relationship violence (physical, sexual, emotional, financial) and its effects on all members of family as well as the cost to society in the Lower Mainland. Its purpose is to eliminate relationship violence by sharing resources and collaborating among service providers, community leaders, educators and government bodies. To learn more about these events and NEVR, visit kpu.ca/nevr.